PORT ST. LUCIE — Michael Cuddyer has barely played left field in his career, but is willing to give it a shot if it helps the Mets.
Manager Terry Collins revealed Sunday he is considering the idea of keeping Curtis Granderson as the right fielder and asking Cuddyer to play left — a position at which he has started only three games in his 13-year major-league career.
Cuddyer is deaf in his left ear as the result of a childhood virus, but said hearing the center fielder call for a ball won’t be an issue if he’s asked to play left.
“Not even in the slightest,” Cuddyer said.
Collins is happy with the manner in which Granderson handled spacious right field at Citi Field last season, but also doesn’t want to juggle the alignment too much on days Cuddyer plays first base. In those instances, John Mayberry Jr. would play left field. If Granderson were the primary left fielder, he would have to switch to right field when Mayberry plays.
Collins plans to use the next 10-14 days of spring training to find the answer, rotating Cuddyer and Granderson between left field and right field. Granderson started eight games in left field for the Mets last year.
“I hate to take anything away from Curtis; he played very well out there,” Collins said. “And to now say, ‘Go play left,’ and Michael has never played right in Citi Field is [difficult].”
Cuddyer says left field shouldn’t be an issue for him.
“I don’t have much experience, but there’s no saying I can’t go over there and learn,” he said. “I take a lot of pride in being an athlete, not just a right fielder or a first baseman, just being a baseball player.”
Lucas Duda will begin taking dry swings and hitting from a tee this week, according to Collins, and might be ready for batting practice next week. The first baseman has been bothered by soreness in his left rib cage area and stopped swinging about three weeks ago. Duda has participated in defensive drills with the team.
Collins intends to use Cuddyer, Granderson, D avid Wright and Daniel Murphy on Friday against the Tigers after sitting that crew for the first two Grapefruit League games, on Wednesday and Thursday.
Matt Harvey is scheduled to throw batting practice on Monday in which hitters will be allowed to swing. The right-hander threw on Friday to hitters in the box who weren’t permitted to swing.